Miss Dexie: A Romance of the ProvincesEveleth, Stanford
General
Miss Dexie: A Romance of the Provinces
Eveleth, Stanford
Fiction
Mr. Sherwood took the countryman to the police headquarters at once, where
the story of the theft was told at length, and as he could give a good
description of the men who had robbed him it was thought that they might be
captured.
As Mr. Sherwood had received such kind treatment from the man's relations
in Prince Edward Island, he thought it but fair to repay it by looking
after the farmer during the rest of his stay in the city.
To satisfy the man that the vessel had not sailed during his absence he
took him down to the wharf, and, after explaining to the captain the cause
of his detention, Mr. Sherwood insisted on taking him up to visit his own
family.
The farmer demurred at this, saying that his clothes were not in a fit
state to visit anywhere.
This fact was evident, but Mr. Sherwood intended to visit a ready-made
clothing store on his way up town, and make his friend presentable.
This was rather a delicate matter to accomplish without wounding the man's
feelings; but the native tact of the Yankee served him well here, and when
the farmer stepped before the large mirror in the back shop of Silver's
clothing store and saw his own reflection, he hardly knew himself.
"But hoo am I ever gaun to repay ye?" he asked. "If I shouldna get ma money
back I'll be in a bad fix."
"Not at all, Mr. McDonald. I'll buy the best horse you have got, if you
will sell him to me, and we can settle this little matter then; but I made
enough on the big black horse I bought from your brother to give you this
suit and still have a good profit besides."
"Weel, ye're an honest man, for ye paid a guid price for the beast, an'
paid it in cash tae."
"Thank you for your good opinion; but in case the police should not find
those rascals before the vessel sails, it will be rather hard on you to
return home with empty pockets, so let me pay you in advance for that
horse."
It was quite a different-looking man that came out of the store a few
minutes later, for he had been refitted from hat to boots, and he looked
the well-to-do farmer to the life, even the well-filled purse was not
lacking, for Mr. Sherwood had given him the horse's value instead of the
modest sum the farmer stated as the selling price of his animal.
The polite store-keeper promised to send the farmer's cast-off garments to
the vessel, and Mr. Sherwood was soon introducing his friend to the members
of his household.
Mr. Sherwood's unexpected arrival made a joyful excitement, and the farmer
mentally resolved that an account of the happy meeting between the Yankee
horse-buyer and his family should be added to the rest of the story he had
to tell when once he arrived home.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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